sue

sue — verb

1. to take a dispute to a civil court so that a judge can decide whether an individ

1.verbtransitive / intransitiveB1
Definition

to take a dispute to a civil court so that a judge can decide whether an individual, company, or other party must pay you or fix something they did wrong.

Example

Chidi sued the construction company after their damaged roof caused flooding in his flat.

sue + organization + for harm caused

The family is suing the hospital for the cost of further treatment and other losses.

sue + person + for + financial loss

Common collocations
  • sue someone for damages
  • sue for compensation
  • sue for breach of contract
  • sue over a property dispute
  • threaten to sue
  • grounds to sue
  • sue the company / the hospital / the landlord
Synonyms
  • take to court

    less formal, plain-language equivalent; common in everyday speech

  • litigate

    more formal and technical; focuses on the court process rather than the claim

  • file a lawsuit against

    more procedural; emphasizes the act of starting the legal paperwork

Antonyms
  • settle

    to resolve a dispute outside court without a lawsuit

Grammar Patterns

sue + person/organization + for + noun

sue + person/organization + over + noun

sue + for + noun (intransitive)

Usage Note

The person or organization being sued follows directly after the verb (sue + someone). The reason for the legal action is introduced by for (the harm or loss) or over (the subject of the dispute). Often used in news reports; the passive form is also common: 'The company was sued by its employees.'

Common Mistakes

The police sued him for stealing a car.
The police charged him with stealing a car.
Sue is for civil cases (private disputes over money or rights); charge is for criminal cases (breaking a law).
She sued him to get money.
She sued him for damages.
Use for + noun to state the reason; do not use a to-infinitive directly after sue.

2. to make a formal request to a court or other legal authority, asking for a speci

2.verbintransitiveC1
Definition

to make a formal request to a court or other legal authority, asking for a specific decision such as the end of a marriage, permission to do something, or a particular legal order.

Example

After two years apart, Lakan sued for divorce in the family court.

sue for divorce

The charity sued for permission to continue providing meals at the city park.

sue for permission to

Common collocations
  • sue for divorce
  • sue for custody
  • sue for an injunction
  • sue for permission
  • sue for a separation
Synonyms
  • petition

    more general; can be used outside courts (e.g., petition the government)

  • apply for

    less formal; used for permission, licenses, or benefits

  • seek

    broader; can refer to any formal or informal attempt to obtain something

Grammar Patterns

sue + for + noun (legal outcome or permission)

Usage Note

This sense is intransitive only — it always takes for + the thing being requested. The most common collocations in family law are sue for divorce and sue for custody. In business or public law contexts, sue for permission or sue for an injunction are more frequent.

Common Mistakes

He sued his wife divorce.
He sued for divorce.
This sense is intransitive; always use for before the thing requested.
Idioms

Eugène Sue

idiom

French novelist (1804–1857), best known for his serialized novel The Mysteries of Paris (Les Mystères de Paris), which was widely read across Europe.

Eugène Sue's serialized stories appeared in newspapers and reached readers from all social classes.

Word family

  • sues
    verbB1
  • sued
    verbB1
  • suing
    verbB1
  • suer
    nounC1
  • lawsuit
    nounB2
  • suit
    nounB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

Sue, charge, prosecute, and litigate all involve legal action but apply to different situations. Sue is the broadest — any person or company can sue another in civil court over a private dispute (money, property, contracts). Charge is criminal: the police or state charges someone with breaking a law. Prosecute also belongs to criminal law and means the government brings a case against someone in court. Litigate is the most formal and technical; it refers to the entire process of taking a dispute through court and can be used for both civil and some criminal matters. For example: 'The neighbour sued us over the tree roots' (civil, private), but 'The state charged him with theft' (criminal), and 'The company spent years litigating the patent dispute' (formal, process-focused).

sue ↗charge ↗prosecute ↗litigate

Common collocations

Nouns

  • sue the company
  • sue the hospital
  • sue the landlord
  • sue the government
  • sue a neighbour

Adverbs

  • successfully sue
  • unsuccessfully sue
  • threaten to sue
  • sue immediately
  • sue separately

Phrases

  • grounds to sue
  • right to sue
  • threaten to sue
  • decide to sue

Prepositions

  • sue for
  • sue over

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchAnglo-FrenchEnglish

Sue entered English through Anglo-French suer, meaning 'to follow up (a legal claim),' from Old French sivre (to follow), which traces back to Latin sequi (to follow). The original idea was 'to follow up on a claim in court' — you pursue or follow your right through legal channels.